Pavement marker



Dec. 1, 1953 A. R. HOWELL ET AL PAVEMENT MARKER Filed April 16 UNITEDSTATES PATENT Vacea'z'en ,Pny-EMENT MARKER Application April 16, 1951-,fSeilNoJZ'ZlIZ'Z 12 Claims. (Cel. 33-41) This invention is concernedW'ithfa ipavement marker and vit is .a general object :of the iinventionto .provide a simple, practical, accurate-and 'eas'ilyioper'ated :device:that-lean fbe used to advantage to establish marks or lines lonpavements, as where ditches .or `excavations are *to 'be :ma-de. Inpractically all communities .of appreciable size lthere 'are streetsorrro'ads provided with pavement and it vis common to provide curbs atthe longitudinal edges of such pavements. when ditches v'or cuts are tobe made in Isu'ch 'pavements for the purpose fof installing, replacing,repairing, for 'otherwise handling 'equipment s-uch as is required forutilities, water supply., sewage, feto., it is generally practical `tolocateth'em relative fto `a curbing, and when power equipment is 'to beutilized Yfor the digging 'of ditches `or for 'the cutting of kpavementit is 'highly desirable that clear and accurate lmarkings be establishedon the pavements before operations are undertaken.

It is a general object of this invention 'to provide a pavement vrnarker`adapted to be -f'operated relative to or in engagement with a curbing,lor the like, 'and having a marking device serving to establish asatisfactory mark on a pavement as the structure is operated `along thepavement lin engagement with the curb.

A general object of this invention is to -provide fa device of thegeneral character referred to wherein the essential or principalelements are adjustable relative to each other, to the end that "thestructure can be easily, quickly, and accurately set to accommodatel ormeet various Working conditions.

It is another object of the invention to provide apparatus of thegeneral vcharacter referred to in which the structure is light, verysimple "of construction and manufacture, and such that it can be readilyhandled by a single person in a manner to quickly and accurately'establish marks on the pavements.

The structure provided by the invention 'in'- volves, generally, aframe, kpreferablya rigid uni-t made up of an elongate body, preferably'tubular in form, a base transverse .of the body 'at the inner end ofthe body,I and braces, preferably tubular, that have their forward or'outer ends joined to the body intermediate Vits Aends and joined to theends of the base. The braces being thus joined to the body leave thebody with a free or unobstructed forward end 'portion and they arepreferably/'tubular and open at 'their inner ends@ A supporting means isprovided and involves a plurality of supporting rollers, preferably two,yat the inner portion of the frame,

, .I2 Y 'and one atrthe-outerfportion thereof. IneJ prelf'erredarrangement there vris gan inner roller "at yeach fend portion of thebase or Aat each corner where a brace joins the fbase. These rollers areon horizontally disposed axes in .plai-es transconstraction the :arm canvbe rotated or swung to various rotative :positions about 'theM-longitudinal axis bf the iframe 'body Vto locate tlfievonftjer supportingaol-1er at various elevations relative '5to tlfre 'forward Yend :portionof theifra'me. vA hanle is provided and preferably involvesspaced lian-vdlebars Z'each with f'a shank xed to the frame, las, for instance, tothe .fbody `of the frame, and grips at the upper 'endfportions 'oftheshanks. A guide means is provided at the base :portion lol frame andpreferably involves -fcurb engaging rollers, one fat Eeach end of thebase of the frame or fat ea'ch `corner where a brace joins an end of thebase. 'SDhe curb engaging rollers 'are on ver:- 'tical aires and arepreferably Ycarried by stems slielable 5in the braces and releasa-blyzset against movement 'therein as by lvset screws. A marker is providedvand preferably involves, generally'fa marking :element `and *a :holdercarrying 'the marbing element. A means supports 'the marker from. 'thefrazn'e, preferably for adjustment relative thereto. a preferred case,the said means volves -a rod fsli'dably supported in the frame orentering the frame 'at the forward 'end portion thereof so lit canbeslid for shifted iongftudinaily oi the trame fand also rotated withinthe body of the iframe. vA releasable means such as ia set screw isprovided "to set the rrod in adjusted lw'si tion. In the preferredarrangement, a *collar is provided on the holder of the marker and isrotatable and siid'able on the rod, thus providing for adjustment of thernarker along the rod as well as about the asis thereof. A releasablemeans such as a :set screw is provided to eset 'the collar of the holderin the "desired position on the rod. In a 'typical situation a singlemarker is'. employed, whereas lit is contemplated that more than onemarker may be used, if desired. In one form of marker, the holder is atubular cari-ier supporting an elongate body of chalk yeldmsiy pressedby a spring. I n another 'fermer marken.

the marking element is a roller and the roller is supplied with amarking material such as a uid by providing a container carrying asuppljT of fluid and an applicator that receives the material from thecontainer and applies it to the roller.

The various objects and features of my invention will be fullyunderstood from the following detailed description of typical preferredforms and applications of the invention, throughout which descriptionreference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a typical form of the invention, showingit in operating position on or over a pavement, and inengagement withthe curb at an edge of the pavement. Fig.-

2 is an enlarged side elevation of the device. Fig. 3 is an enlargeddetailed sectional view taken as indicated by line 3 3 on Fig. 2. Fig. 4is a detailed sectional view taken as indicated by line 4 4 on Fig. 3.Fig. 5 is an enlarged detailed sectional view taken as indicated by line5--5 on Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is an enlarged plan view of a portion of thestructure taken as indicated by line 6-6 on Fig. 2, and Fig. '7 is aview illustrating a second or modified form of marker, portions thereofbeing shown in section.

Referring first to the form of the invention` illustrated in Figs. 1 to6 of the drawings, the device involves, generally, a frame A, supportingmeans B for the frame, a handle C, preferably on the frame, guide meansD on the base portion of the frame, a marker E, and means F supportingthe marker from the frame.

The frame, in its preferred form, involves a body II), an elongate baseI I, and elongate braces I2. The body I0 is preferably an elongatemember, tubular in form, and the base II may be an elongate memberlikewise tubular in form. The inner end of the body I0 is joined or xedto the base and may be midway between the ends of the bas. The braces I2are preferably elongate tubular members and their outer or forward endportions are Xed to the body III at I6, which point is intermediate theends of the body I0 so that the body has a forwardly projecting portionI'I forward of the braces I2.

The supporting means B preferably involves inner'and outer supportingrollers and in a preferred arrangement there are two inner supportingrollers and one outer supporting roller. In the case illustrated thereare two inner supporting rollers 2Q and they are located at the endportions of the base I I of the frame, or at the corners where the baseconnects to the braces I2. In accordance with the invention, the rollersare located below the frame and on horizontal axes in vertical planesnormal to the longitudinal axis of base II. In the case illustrated,each roller 2li is carried by a bracket mounted on or secured to thebase II of the frame. The bracket shown is U-shaped to partially embracethe base I I where it is 'lXed or joined thereto, and it has spaceddepending arms 22 between which the roller is located, the roller beingcarried by a pivot pin 23 that extends between the arms.

The single outer supporting wheel 3D is preferably supported on or fromthe forwardly projecting portion I'I of body I Il and a preferred formof mounting means involves a collar 3| carried on thev body portion I1,an arm 32 projecting from the collar and a pivot 33 carried by the armand supporting the roller 3Q. 'I'he collar 3l is rotatable and may beshiftable longitudinally on body portion I 'I and a suitable means suchas a set screw 35`is provided for releasably setting the collarin anysuitable position on or around the body portion II. Through the mountingmeans just described, the outer supporting roller 30 can 'be adjusted tovarious positions vertically relative to the frame or to the outer endportion of the frame.

The handle C may, in practice, vary widely in form and construction andis preferably a, structure carried by the frame A. In the caseillustrated, the handle C involves two like elements each involving ashank 40 and a grip 4I. The shanks are shown fixed to the body III atpoints spaced apart longitudinally of the body, and they are shown asextending upwardly and somewhat toward the rear side of the structure,so that they carry the grips 4I so that they project toward the side ofthe device at which the operator is located when the device is beingoperated, as in the direction indicated by the arrow X in Fig. 1.

The guide means D involves curb engaging rollers and, in a preferredconstruction, there are two such rollers and these are located at theends of base II of the frame or at the corner where the base I I joinsthe braces l2. In accordance with the invention, the curb engagingrollers 56 are on vertical axes and are arranged relative to the base II of the frame so that the base is supported in a position spaced frome, curb 60 or other like element. In a typical situation, the apparatusis to be operated over a pavement P at one edge of which there is a curb6I), and in such case the supporting rollers hereinabove described reston the pavement while the curb rollers 5I) engage the face 6I of thecurb,

In a preferred construction, the mounting for each curb roller 50involves a connection between the roller and the frame which providesfor adjustment of the roller relative to the frame. In the caseillustrated, each roller 50 is supported by a stem B5 slidably carriedin a guide I2 of the frame and the stem carries a yoke 6B in which theroller 5|] is located, the roller being supported on a pivot B'I whichis carried. by the yoke. The stem is preferably slidable and may berotatable in its supporting brace and a suitable means such as a setscrew 68 is provided for setting the stem in the desired positionrelative to the frame or supporting brace. Through the construction justdescribed, the curb engaging rollers 50 can be adjusted to variouspositions relative to the frame to meet road or working conditions, ascircumstances require. In a typical case or situation, the curb engagingrollers 50 will be set so that the base I I of the frame is spaced but ashort distance from the curb and is parallel therewith, in which casethe body Ill of the frame is normal to the curb. If desired, however,the stems 65 of the mountings above described can be positioned so thatthe rollers 5I! support the base II at various angles relative to thecurb, or at various distances from the curb.

The marker E is shown as kinvolving a marking element 'III and a carrierII supporting the element. -In the particular case under consideration,the marking element 'I0 is an elongate body of chalk or the like and thecarrier 'II is a tubular element in which the stick of chalk is slidablymounted. A suitable means, such as a helical compression spring 12, maybe provided in the carrier 'IIJ behind or at the inner end of the chalkso that the chalk is cushioned. This construction allows for shifting orvariation of the chalk in the holder as the apparatus operates so thatthe chalk is maintained in proper marking-engagement with the pavementP. Y

The means F supporting the marker from the acceder frame preferablyprovides for adjustment of the marker relative to the frame so that theangle' or position of the marker relative to the pavement P can beadjusted and so that the spacing of the' marker from the frame can beadjusted. In` the form of the invention illustrated, the means Finvolves a rod @3' slidably carried by the frame and the rod carries thecarrier ll. of the marker. In the case illustrated, the rod 8U isslidabl'y engaged in the frame body It so that it can be shiftedlongitudinally therein or can be' rotated therein as circumstancesrequire.l A suitable means is provided for setting the rod. in suitableadjusted position. In the case illustrated, a releasable means in theform of a set screw 8l is provided for this purpose. The marlier abovedescribed can be mounted on or secured to the rod 89 in any suitablemanner.4 In the case illustrated, a collar 33v is provided ony themarker, that is, on the carrier of the marker, and the collar 83 isslidable and rotatable on' the rod 80. Through` this construction, themarker can be slid along the rod to any desired position and can berotated on the rod as desired. A suitable means such as a set screw S isprovided for setting the collai` in the desiredposition on the rod.

In the form of marker illustrated in Fig. 7, the carrier 'Ila supportsthe collar 83 that receives the rod 80 and it has a lower arm 85 thatcarries the marking element 7&1a and it has an upper arm 8'6 thatcarries a means for supplying material to the marking element. Themarking element 'lllai is in the form of a marking roller mounted on thearm 85 by a pivot pin 8l, The means carried by arm 86 is adapted tosupply marking material to the roller and is shown as including a.container 88 carrying a suitable supply of marking material M and anapplicator1 39 that may be in the nature of a brush which receivesmaterial from the container and. applies it to the roller, In theparticular case illustrated the unit formed by the container 88 and thebrush 39 is mounted on the arm 8G through a means 90 which provides foradjustment of this unit relative to the roller so that the desiredcontact or engagement may be maintained between the brush and theroller.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that the inventionprovides a frame which is very simple in form and construction. Theframe, together with the handle means C, may be a rigid or unitarystructure formed entirely of tubing so that it is light and at the sametime strong and durable. The supporting rollers of the means B arearranged or related to advantageously support the frame from or abovethe pavement P and by adjustment of the outer roller 30 the outer endportion of the frame can be adjusted relative to the pavement and thusvary the position of the marker-carrying portion of rod 80 above thepavement P. The guide means D is very simple in form and is highlyeffective in action. The curb engaging rollers can be adjusted ascircumstances require and they are located so that they are spaced asubstantial distance apart longitudinally of the curb and thus providean effective guiding engagement between the device and the curb. Inpractice, the marker or markers that may be carried by the rod 89 can bereadily set or adjusted to meet working conditions, and in the caseshown in Fig. l' the marker will provide an eiective chalk mark 95 alongthe pavement P when the structiire is operated along the pavement and inengagemient with" the curb in the direction indicatedby the arrow XinFit.y l'. When the mark.

ing. means shownin Eig.y '7. is. employedv the mark applied to thepavement may be i'nlthenatureof a painted lineA or mark which is more`permanentl than a chalk. mark.

Having described typical preferred. forms and applications of. ourinvention, we do. not. wish to be limited or restricted to the specificdetails. herein setforth, but wish.. to reserve tov ourselvesanyvariations or modications that may appear to those skilled inthe art andtall within the scope of the following claims.

Having described our invention, we claim:

1.V AA marking. device of the character described including,- a flat.horizontally disposedr frame hav-- ing aV straight elongate tubular bodyand al straight base transverse of the body connected to the. inner endthereof, a handle on the frame andl projecting up therefrom, supportingwheels carried by and located beneath the base andy spaced apartlengthwise of. thev base, a single supporting wheel carried by andlocated beneath the outer end portion of the frame, guide rollers in theplane of the frame at the ends of the base, an extensible rodV slidablyengaged in the body from the outer end thereof and projecting outwardlytherefrom, means releasably setting the rod in adjusted relationshipwith respect to the frame, and a marker holder on the rod at the outerex.- tremity thereof and adapted to carry a depending marking. element.

2. A marking device of the character described including, a flathorizontally disposed frame having a straight elongate body, a straightelongate base disposed transversely of the body at the inner end thereofand projecting equally in opposite directions therefrom, and tubularbraces between the ends of the base and the body outward from the base,extensible stems slidably carried in the braces and projecting from theinner end of the frame, guide rollers on the stems, means releasablysetting the stems in adj-usted relationship with respect to the braces,supporting rollers 'depending ,from the frame, an extensible rodprojecting from the outer end of the frame, and a marker holder carriedby the rod and adapted to carry a marker so it depends from the outerend thereof.

3. A marking device of the character described including, a flathorizontally disposed frame having a straight elongate tubular body, astraight base extending transversely of the body at the inner endthereof and projecting equally in opposite directions from the body, andtubular braces between the ends of the base and the body outward fromthe base, extensible stems slidably carried in the braces and projectingfrom the kinner end of the frame, guide rollers on the stems,

means releasably setting the stems in adjusted relationship with respectto the braces, supporting rollers depending from the frame, anextensible rod slidably carried in the body and projccting from theouter end of the frame, means I releasably setting the rod in adjustedrelationship with respect to the body, and a marker holder.` carried bythe rod and adapted to carry a marker so it depends therefrom.

4. A marking device of the character described including, a flathorizontally disposed frame having a straight elongate body, a straightelongate base disposed transversely-of the bodyv at .the 111-. ner endthereof and projecting equally in opposite directions from the body, andtubular braces between the ends of the base and the body out- Ward fromthe base, extensible stems slidably carried in the braces and projectingfrom the inner end of the frame, guide rollers on the stems, meansreleasably setting the stems in adjusted. relationship with respect tothe braces, supporting rollers depending from the frame, an extensiblerod slidably carried in the body and projecting from the frame, and amarker holder carried by the rod and adapted to carry a marker so itdepends therefrom, there being a supporting roller at each end of thebase and a supporting roller at the outer end portion of the body, thesupporting roller at the outer end portion of the 'body being adjustablevertically of the frame.

5. A marking device of the character described including, a flathorizontally disposed frame having a straight elongate tubular body anda straight elongate base disposed transversely of the body at the innerend thereof and projecting equally in opposite directions from the body,a handle on the frame, projecting up therefrom, supporting wheelscarried by and located beneath the base and spaced apart lengthwisethereof, a single supporting wheel beneath the outer end portion of theframe, guide rollers at the ends of the base, an extensible rod slidablyengaged in the body from the outer end thereof and projecting outwardlytherefrom, means releasably setting the rod in adjusted relationshipwith respect to the frame, a marker holder, and means mounting theholder on the rod for adjustment around and along the rod, and a memberreleasably setting the holder in adjusted relationship with respect tothe rod.

6. A marking device of the character described including, a flathorizontally disposed frame having a straight elongate tubular body anda straight elongate base transverse of the body at the inner end thereofand projecting equal distances in opposite directions from the body, a.handle on the frame, supporting Wheels spaced apart beneath the base, asingle supporting wheel beneath the outer end portion of the frame,guide rollers at the ends of the base, an extensible rod slidablyengaged in the body from the outer end thereof and projecting outwardlytherefrom, means releasably setting the rod in adjusted relationshipwith respect to the frame, and a marker holder adapted to carry amarking element and including a carrier supporting the element, a collaron the carrier passing the rod, and means releasably setting the collarin adjusted relationship with respect to the rod.

'7. A marking device of the character described including, a framehaving an elongate tubular body and a base transverse of the body at theinner end thereof, a handle on the frame, supporting wheels spaced apartbeneath the base, a single supporting wheel beneath the outer endportion of the frame, guide rollers at the ends of the base, anextensible rod slidably engaged in the body from the outer end thereofand projecting outwardly therefrom, means releasably setting the rod inadjusted relationship with respect to the frame, and a marker holder onthe rod and adapted to carry a marking element, the single supportingroller including a mounting having a collar on the body, and a rollercarrying arm projecting from the collar.

8. A marking device of the character described including, a frame havingan elongate tubular body and a base transverse of the body at the innerend thereof, a handle on the frame, supporting wheels spaced apartbeneath the base, a

single supporting wheel beneath the outer end portion of the frame,guide rollers at the ends of the base, an extensible rod slidablyengaged in the body from the outer end thereof and projecting outwardlytherefrom, means releasably setting the 'rod in adjusted relationshipwith respect to the frame, and a marker holder on the rod and adapted tocarry a marking element, the single supporting roller including amounting having a collar on the body, means releasably setting thecollar in adjusted rotative relationship with respect to the body, and aroller carrying arm projecting from the collar.

9. A marking device of the character de- "Y scribed including, a flathorizontally disposed frame having a straight elongate tubular body anda straight elongate base transverse of the body at the inner end thereofand projecting equally in opposite directions therefrom, a handle on theframe, supporting Wheels spaced apart beneath the base, a singlesupporting Wheel beneath the outer end portion of the frame, guiderollers at the ends of the base, an extensible rod slidably engaged inthe body from the outer' end thereof and projecting outwardly therefrom,

' means releasably setting the rod in adjusted relationship with respectto the frame, and a marker including a marking element, a carriersupporting the element, a collar on the carrier passing the rod, andmeans releasably setting the collar in adjusted relationship withrespect to the rod, the marking element including a roller, a containercarrying a supply of marking material, and an applicator receivingmaterial from the container and applying it to the roller.

l0. A marking device of the character described including, a framehaving Van elongate tubular body, a base at the inner end of the bodyand transverse thereof, elongate tubular braces from the ends of thebase to the body at a point spaced from the base, brackets dependingfrom the end portions of the base, supporting rollers carried by thebrackets, a collar rotatably carried on the body outward of the braces,means releasably setting the collar in adjusted rotative relationshipwith respect to the frame, an arm projecting from the collar, asupporting roller carried by the arm, extensible stems slidably carriedin the braces and projecting from the frame, means releasably settingthe stems in adjusted relationship with respect to the frame, guiderollers carried by the stems, an extensible rod slidably carried in thebody and projecting from the outer end thereof, means releasably settingthe rod in adjusted relationship with respect to the frame, a markerholder carried by the rod, and a handle projecting from the frame.

ll. A marking device of the character described including, a framehaving an elongate tubular body, a base at the inner end of the body andtransverse thereof, elongate tubular braces from the ends of the base tothe body at a point spaced from the base, brackets depending from theend portions of the base, supporting rollers carried by the brackets, acollar rotatably carried on the body outward of the braces, meansreleasably setting the collar in adjusted rotative relationship withrespect to the frame, an .arm projecting from the collar, a supportingroller carried by the arm, extensible stems slidably carried in thebraces and projecting from the frame, means releasably setting the stemsin adjusted relationship with respect to the frame, guide rollerscarried by the stems, an extensible rod slidably carried in the body andprojecting from the outer end thereof, means releasably setting the rodin adjusted relationship with respect to the frame, a marker holdercarried by the rod, the marker holder including a collar slidablycarried on the rod, means releasably setting the last mentioned collarin adjusted relationship With respect to the rod, and a handleprojecting from the frame.

12. A marking device of the character described including, a athorizontally disposed frame having a straight elongate tubular body, astraight elongate base at the inner end of the body and extendingtransversely thereof and projecting equally in opposite directionstherefrom, elongate tubular braces from the ends of the base to the bodyat a point spaced from the base, brackets depending from the endportions of the base, supporting rollers carried by the brackets, acollar on the body outward of the braces, means releasably setting thecollar against movement relative to the frame, an arm projecting fromthe collar, a supporting roller carried by the arm, stems carried in thebraces and projecting from the frame, means releasably setting the stemsagainst movement relative to the frame, guide rollers carried by thestems, a rod carried in the body and projecting from the outer endthereof, means releasably setting the rod against lil movement relativeto the frame, a marker carried by the rod, the marker including a collaron the rod, means releasably setting the last mentioned collar againstmovement relative to the rod, and a handle projecting from the frame,the marker including a marking roller, a container to carry markingmaterial, and an applicator adapted to receive material from thecontainer and apply it to the marking roller.

ALBERT R. HOWELL.

OSCAR W. TACKETT.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 348,674 Humphrey Sept. 7, 1886 1,177,582 Murphy Mar. 28, 19161,276,261 Peterson Aug. 20, 1918 1,594,482 Wentz et al Aug. 3, 19261,830,860 Scoles Nov. 10, 1931 2,596,749 Webber May 13, 1942 FOREIGNPATENTS Number Country Date 16,522 Great Britain Dec. 16, 1886 438,303Germany Dec. 15, 1926 538,687 Great Britain Aug. 13, 1941

